The Skeptical Environmentalist
Measuring the Real State of the World

A controversial, wide ranging and clearly documented survey of the state of the global environment.

Bjørn Lomborg (Author)

9780521010689, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 August 2001

540 pages, 9 tables
24.7 x 17.4 x 3.5 cm, 1.078 kg

'Bjorn Lomborg's book is hugely beneficial for a debate that has been one-sided.' The Financial Times

The Skeptical Environmentalist challenges widely held beliefs that the environmental situation is getting worse and worse. The author, himself a former member of Greenpeace, is critical of the way in which many environmental organisations make selective and misleading use of the scientific evidence. Using the best available statistical information from internationally recognised research institutes, Bjørn Lomborg systematically examines a range of major environmental problems that feature prominently in headline news across the world. His arguments are presented in non-technical, accessible language and are carefully backed up by over 2500 footnotes allowing readers to check sources for themselves. Concluding that there are more reasons for optimism than pessimism, Bjørn Lomborg stresses the need for clear-headed prioritisation of resources to tackle real, not imagined problems. The Skeptical Environmentalist offers readers a non-partisan stocktaking exercise that serves as a useful corrective to the more alarmist accounts favoured by campaign groups and the media.

Introduction
Part I. The Litany: 1. Things are getting better
2. Why do we hear so much bad news?
Part II. Human Welfare: 3. Measuring human welfare
4. Life expectancy and health
5. Food and hunger
6. Prosperity
7. Conclusion
Part III. Can Human Prosperity Continue?: 8. Are we living on borrowed time?
9. Will we have enough food
10. Forests - are we losing them?
11. Energy
12. Non-energy resources
13. Water
14. Conclusion
Part IV. Pollution: 15. Air pollution
16. Acid rain and forest death
17. Indoor air pollution
18. Allergies and asthma
19. Water pollution
20. Waste: running out of space?
21. Conclusion
Part V. Tomorrow's Problems: 22. Our chemical fears
23. Biodiversity
24. Global warming
Part VI. The Real State of the World: 25. Predicament or progress?
Notes
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Environmental economics [KCN], Development economics & emerging economies [KCM], Economic statistics [KCHS]